Touch pad system and program for touch pad control

Abstract

A touch pad system includes an operation member, coordinate output means, pressing detection means, and control means, and the control means determines the presence or absence of a slide operation from a change in the coordinate output that is output from the coordinate output means, sets a first area in which execution of a first function is determined when a pressing operation is performed with respect to the operation member, and a second area in which execution of the first function or a second function is determined when the pressing operation is performed, and executes the first function if the slide operation is performed prior to the pressing operation and the second function if the slide operation is not performed when the pressing operation is performed in the second area.

1 . A touch pad system comprising:
 an operation member having an operation surface;   a coordinate output unit configured to detect a proximity operation of an operation body with respect to the operation member, and to output a coordinate corresponding a position on the operation surface at which the proximity operation is performed;   a pressing detection unit configured to detect a pressing operation of the operation member on the operation surface; and   a control unit configured to perform a function corresponding to the proximity operation and the pressing operation detected by the coordinate output unit and the pressing detection unit, respectively,   wherein the operation surface includes:
 a first area in which a first function is performed if the pressing operation of the operation body is detected therein; and 
 a second area in which the first function or a second is performed if the pressing operation of the operation body is detected therein, depending on the proximity operation of the operation body prior to the pressing operation, 
   and wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 obtain the coordinate of the detected pressing operation; 
 determine a presence or absence of a slide operation of the operation body over the operation surface from a change in the coordinate output from the coordinate output unit; 
 execute the first function if the coordinate of the detected pressing operation is within the first area of the operation surface; 
 execute the first function if the coordinate of the detected pressing operation is within the second area and the slide operation is performed prior to the detected pressing operation; and 
 execute the second function if the coordinate of the detected pressing operation is within the second area and the slide operation is not performed prior to the detected pressing operation. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method for controlling a touch pad having an operation surface, the method comprising:
 setting a first region and a second region on the operation surface;   detecting, using a coordinate output unit, a proximity operation of an operation body over the operation surface and obtaining a coordinate corresponding a position on the operation surface at which the proximity operation is performed;   detecting, using a pressing detection unit, a pressing operation of the operation body on the operation surface;   detecting a presence or absence of a slide operation of the operation body over the operation surface from a change in the coordinate output from the coordinate output unit;   executing a first function if the coordinate of the detected pressing operation is within the first area;   executing the first function if the coordinate of the detected pressing operation is within the second area and the slide operation is performed prior to the detected pressing operation; and   executing the second function if the coordinate of the detected pressing operation is within the second area and the slide operation is not performed prior to the detected pressing operation.   
     
     
         3 . The touch pad system of  claim 1 , wherein the first function corresponds to a left button function of a mouse, and the second function corresponds to a right button function of the mouse. 
     
     
         4 . The touch pad system of  claim 1 , wherein the slide operation is determined based on a distance for which the operation body has traveled prior to the detected pressing operation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first function corresponds to a left button function of a mouse, and the second function corresponds to a right button function of the mouse. 
     
     
         6 . The method  claim 2 , wherein the slide operation is determined based on a distance which the operation body has traveled prior to the detected pressing operation.